November 19, 2019

North Carolina Digital Library

Why the North Carolina Digital Library will stop buying eBooks from Macmillan Publishers

Effective immediately, North Carolina Digital Library will suspend eBook purchases from Macmillan Publishers. Librarians want Macmillan to stop its new eBook embargo, which began November 1. Under this embargo, the library is able to buy just one copy of each new eBook during the first two months after a new title is released — the peak time for reader demand. The goal of Macmillan’s policy is to make more money by creating barriers for people accessing library eBooks.

The North Carolina Digital Library is a consortium of 23 municipal, county, and regional public library systems throughout the state with nearly 2.5 million borrows annually. Libraries pool limited funds to increase access to downloadable eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines to readers across the state in partnership with Overdrive and the Libby app. Until now, the library has purchased Macmillan eBooks at nearly four times their retail price, with a plan to purchase one copy of an eBook for every five borrowers who request that title. The suspension will last until Macmillan cancels their embargo or until we revisit this discussion with member libraries in spring 2020.

In our view, Macmillan’s embargo effectively cuts libraries out of the market for eBooks and sends the message that only those who are able to pay for access deserve it. We believe that this suspension is the best way to support readers and ensure equal access to digital materials. This is not a decision we make lightly, and it means that some borrowers won’t be able to access popular authors in their preferred format. However, as Macmillan’s embargo stands, even if we did choose to purchase Macmillan eBooks, we would still only be able to provide a single copy of a new book for months, resulting in exceedingly long waits for most readers.

We want Macmillan to end this policy. You can let Macmillan know how you feel by signing the #eBooksForAll petition at www.ebooksforall.org, or use the #eBooksForAll hashtag to spread the word on social media.

Macmillan overall has a number of imprints, including Farrar, Straus & Giroux, Henry Holt, Picador, St. Martin’s Press, Griifing, Minotaur, Thomas Dunne, Tor/Forge, Flatiron, and more. While we have suspended the purchase of eBooks from Macmillan, print books at your local library and downloadable audiobooks from Macmillan are not affected.

The North Carolina Digital Library collection is online at ncdigital.overdrive.com or accessible using the Libby app which is free through the App or Google Play store. Contact your local library for questions about your account or ncdlpitcrew@gmail.com for NCDL consortium business.